Thousands of prison cells across England and Wales are set to be temporarily closed due to critical fire safety and security concerns, placing further strain on an already overstretched prison system.

The closures come as the government struggles to manage capacity, having recently expanded the early release scheme to alleviate pressure. This scheme now allows offenders to leave prison after serving 40% of their sentence, down from the previous 50% threshold.

Safety-Driven Closures Across the Estate

Issues such as inadequate fire safety measures and broken security systems are impacting dozens of prisons, including HMP Durham, Risley, Swaleside, and Manchester. Sky News reports that some facilities are implementing temporary fire safety solutions, such as domestic smoke detectors and increased fire safety staff patrols, to mitigate risks.

HMP Dartmoor, previously housing around 650 inmates, remains closed after being mothballed this summer due to dangerously high levels of radon gas.

A spokesperson for the prison service stated: “We have a rolling programme of maintenance works across the prison estate to ensure cells are safe and secure. The safety of staff and prisoners is our top priority, and we will always take steps to ensure fire risks are appropriately managed.”

Government Strategy for Increased Capacity

To address the mounting crisis, the government has committed £2.3bn as part of its 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy, aiming to create 14,000 new prison places by 2031. This includes:

• 6,400 places at new sites in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Leicestershire
• 6,400 places through new wings added to existing prisons
• 1,000 temporary "rapid deployment" cells
• Refurbishment of an additional 1,000 spaces

The Ministry of Justice is also prioritising prisons as nationally significant infrastructure to fast-track construction and prevent delays.

Growing Capacity Challenges

Despite these plans, the National Audit Office warns that expansion efforts are insufficient. Their recent report indicates a shortfall of over 12,000 spaces by 2027, even with billions spent. Current projections suggest the prison population could rise to 105,000 by March 2029, a sharp increase from the current 86,000 inmates.

Andrea Coomber, from the Howard League for Penal Reform, argued that “We cannot build our way out of this crisis. The billions earmarked for new prisons would be better invested in a more effective probation service and crime prevention measures in the community.”

While the Conservatives originally promised 20,000 new spaces by the mid-2020s, only around 6,000 have been delivered, with the remainder now delayed until 2031.

Exploring Alternatives

Officials hope to ease demand through upcoming sentencing reviews, focusing on non-custodial alternatives and rehabilitation programs to reduce the prison population and ensure public safety.

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